Why? Honestly.

[APBTLove]

Please don't flame, I really can't take it right now.

After doing very well recently, J just did something that will have me worried.

It seems when he is under any kind of stress everyone is fair game. He went for my niece, the one who lives with us, today during a pack walk with three dogs completely indifferent to him. It wasn't a quick snap at her. We were standing a good 12' away from the dogs because they had stopped to talk with a man they know, my niece saw that J was nervous and came to pet him. Hackles went up, and he began barking deeply and rapid-fire at her, lunging and snapping, she backed off quickly, confused. I told him "NO!" and put him in a sit. Niece went to sit on the curb near him and he went for her again.

I really cannot believe it. This is the girl he curls up with a night and plays with non-stop all day, that is why I am darn near praying that it is his eyes... I can't have a large dog around who has shown he will attack the smallest family member.

We're going to get his eyes checked ASAP, what else should we test him for? Would having his thyroid checked do any good? I've heard it is mainly older dogs with low thyroid issues...

In the meantime I'm looking for a trainer, not the usual, he knows sit, come, down, and the basics, which is what every trainer around here wants to teach in their class for his age.
If you can suggest on in the area who knows working breeds, please share.

He is getting worse, not better, no matter what I do. His breeder said that his other littermates haven't shown this, and their owners say they are outgoing, friendly, and all around good pups.

I just this morning posted about him comforting a friend...

I don't want to give up on him... I really cannot afford a trainer, but I NEED one, we just lost a lot of income because of the crappy times.

I hate this, he is such a sweet, goofy, happy boy, until he's stressed. If I lived out in the country with plenty of land, this would be laughable, but no, I live in the city with neighbors on either side and kids everywhere.

I guess I am venting more than anything. I thought I was doing everything right, letting HIM go to kids and get treats, not forcing him into situations he is not comfortable with, taking him out with me every chance I have, several times a day, even just to sit on a bench and watch people pass, spending my days working on his obedience in a fun happy way, exercising as much as he can to get out any excess energy, positive reinforcement, ect, ect, ECT!

I'm worried if I take him to the vet to get his eyes checked he'll be muzzled, which will add to his anxiety, and if not he'll bite the vet.

I met the Ridgeback pup today and was just overwhelmed, he acted like a puppy, he came up and gave me kisses, J would have hidden behind me and then gone after someone who dropped the their knees to see him.

I just lost my baby girl because of aggression, not him too, he's just a puppy, what is going on?

[Technostorm]

Sorry to hear that. Can you explain in more details how he became stressed? puppies can become over-stressed easily. If he is taking things for granted, I suspect it might be just spoiled. I would first get him checked, then go back to full enforcement of NILIF, and have your neice do the NILIF with your supervising.

I hope thinks turn out better. God Bless and good luck. Please keep us posted.

Dan

[HeidiW]

How old is he now? I do hope he will be okay, he is just gorgeous and you have done everything right, way more than I have.

[BowWowMeow]

First of all, I'm sorry to hear this. It does not sound like his eyes--dogs tend to use their noses as much as their eyes and given his history it sound like he is quite fearful and now you're seeing fear aggression. I have rehabbed two dogs with fear aggression. One was 4.5 when I adopted him and the other was 7 months.

I would immediately join this group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/shy-k9s/ It is an excellent resource. A book I would recommend is "Click to Calm." I found it really helpful when I was working with Kai.
"Cautious Canine" is a short and basic book that is helpful. There are a couple of other good ones too. I would do a search on dogwise.com

I would switch to positive reinforcement training only. I used a lot of redirection and counter conditioning with my fearful dogs. Correcting a dog for that kind of behavior can backfire in the worst way, creating a very dangerous dog.

You want to train him to look to you as a calm, confident and secure leader. If Rafi gets nervous he looks at me for guidance. That's what you want to work towards for J. He has to know that you control his world and that you will keep him safe and secure.

You will need to figure out his triggers and watch him very carefully so that you can interrupt and redirect before he is ramped up into aggression mode.

And because it really does sound like he has weak nerves you should know that while he can and will get better, he will may never be trustworthy in the way that a more confident dog would be.

Hope this helps!!!!!!

Also, I can't remember his age. If he's going through a fear period right now then all of his normal anxieties will be heightened.

[Tbarrios333]

Not fair. I'm so sorry you're going through this with your boy J.
IMO it sounds like you're doing everything right, and I told you that the last time you posted about this.
Way more than me as well. Hugs for you.

That is so weird that he went for you niece and he knows and lives with her.
I'm not very experienced at all with this but I hope for the best for you and J.

[APBTLove]

He's 4 months...

I know I shouldn't have yelled at him, but my niece is like my child, and he has very sharp teeth, I forgot myself for a moment...

Thank you for the advice, I immediately thought his eyes because he will bark at all of us until we get within about 5ft, or if it's dark.

His triggers so far are kids, doing anything... Or people reaching to pet him, or hand a treat, let him sniff them, ect.
I need to get him a vest that says he's in trainer, not to pet...

We'll get his eyes and thyroid checked anyways.. Poor boy..

[BlackGSD]

Originally Posted By: APBTLove

...my niece saw that J was nervous and came to pet him.

I'm not trying to "flame" here so PLEASE don't think that.

I don't know how old your neice is, it really doesn't matter as far as what I am about to say.

Petting a dog in the state of mind he was in is NOT the way to go. Petting and talking soothingly to a dog that is fearfull or nervous is basically telling them. (in THEIR mind.) that they are correct to be afraid.

(I imagine that YOU know this, but on the off chance that you didn't I felt the need to post. And it is obvious that your neice doesn't know this. So there is no time like the present to teach her that. (Unless she is too young to understand.)

Also, don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying her was justified in going after her!

Good luck with your boy. I really hope you get everything figured out.

[APBTLove]

Yes, I know that, she doesn't. She's 8, and I will fill her in as best I can... I feel bad for HER.. She was very attached to the dog we put down, and witnessed the last fight, seeing him baring teeth and lunging at her freaked her out bad...

[APBTLove]

Forgot to add, thanks for posting that, always best to do when you don't know the extent of the OPs knowledge.

[JakodaCD OA]

Ok, I have to ask,,now that you are back home, how is J with the neice?

Reason I ask, IF he's ok back home, well he's in a comfortable place for him, and I agree with the stressing ramping him up even more,

I don't doubt your doing everything right, unfortunately J is a pretty fearful dog and as Ruth posted, your probably going to have to be on top of those triggers, before they happen, and before they progress..

Is the breeder near you? For some reason I don't remember that she is, I was going to suggest you take him to see the breeder so she can see first hand what's going on with him and maybe offer some help????

I know it can be expensive, but if you can find a good behaviorist that may be a big help..Keep us updated and good luck